Thai Chicken Pizza

Ingredients

• 20 ounces prepared whole-wheat pizza dough (I used Trader Joe's whole wheat pizza dough)
• 1/4 cup smooth natural peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed and diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 2/3 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Place oven rack in the lowest position; preheat to 450 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Roll out or stretch dough on a lightly floured surface into a rough 16-inch oval. Transfer to the baking sheet. Bake on the bottom rack until puffed and lightly crisped on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, whisk peanut butter, water, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and garlic in a small bowl until well combined.
4. Heat oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring, until cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add bell pepper, scallions and 1 tablespoon of the peanut sauce to the chicken; toss to combine.
5. Remove the crust from the oven; spread evenly with the remaining peanut sauce. Top with the chicken mixture, then sprinkle with cheese. Return the pizza to the oven and bake on the bottom rack until the crust is crispy and golden and the cheese is melted, 11 to 13 minutes (I topped my pizza off with a little goat cheese after baking.)

Source: eatingwell.com

Broiled Salmon with Miso Glaze

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon miso, preferably white
• 1 tablespoon mirin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• Hot pepper sauce, to taste
• 8 ounces center-cut salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 2 portions
• 1 tablespoon thinly sliced scallions
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

Directions

1. Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler. Line a small baking pan with foil. Coat the foil with cooking spray.
2. Whisk miso, mirin, soy sauce, ginger and hot sauce in a small bowl until smooth.
3. Place salmon fillets, skinned-side down, in the prepared pan. Brush generously with the miso mixture. Broil the salmon until just cooked through in the center, 6 to 8 minutes. Garnish the salmon with scallions, cilantro and sesame seeds.

Source: eatingwell.com

Tilapia Corn Chowder

The hardest thin about making this soup is chopping everything up. Once you got that down, throw everything in the pot and viola- a wonderful soup! I ate it with some naan and a green salad. What a great summer meal.

Ingredients

• 3 slices bacon
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 leek, white part only, halved lengthwise, rinsed and thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 8 ounces Yukon Gold potatoes, diced
• 3 ears of corn
• 1 pound tilapia fillets, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, (optional)

Directions

1. Chop bacon and cook in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
2. Add oil to the pan. Add celery, leek, salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables just begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add broth, potatoes and corn. Bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until the potatoes are just tender and the corn is cooked through, about 8 minutes
3. Stir in tilapia and thyme; return to a gentle simmer. Cook until the tilapia is cooked through, about 4 minutes more. Remove from the heat.
4. Stir in half-and-half, lemon juice and the reserved bacon. Garnish with chives, if using.

Source: eatingwell.com

Herbed Chicken Crepes with Fresh Rosemary Cream Sauce

I found this recipe on an awesome blog called Poor Girl Eats Well. It was delicious and much easier than I anticipated. The crepe recipe is simple and can be used for any crepe dish, including sweet ones. Strawberry crepes, anyone?

Ingredients

• 1/2 c all purpose flour
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 c nonfat milk
• 1 T butter, melted
• 1 T sugar
• 1/2 T butter for cooking

• 4 chicken thighs, cubed
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1/2 t sea salt
• 1/4 t rosemary
• 1/4 t thyme
• 1/8 t freshly ground black pepper
• 2 T olive oil

• 1/2 c half & half
• 1 T butter
• 1/2 T fresh rosemary
• 1/2 T corn starch or flour, mixed in with a bit of water
• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Season the cubed chicken thighs and heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and heat until just lightly golden brown. Add the chicken, cover, and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until thickest part of the cube is no longer pink on the inside. Remove from heat, keep covered, and set aside.

While chicken is cooking, combine the crepe ingredients into a bowl and mix together well with a wire whisk. In a medium skillet, heat the 1/2 T butter and coat the entire pan with it. Using either a measuring cup or ladle with a spout, slowly pour some of the batter into the skillet until it covers the entire bottom. Cook over medium low heat until the edges become slightly dry, about 45 seconds. With a spatula, check to make sure the crepe is starting to turn a golden brown on the bottom. If so, it's ready to flip onto the other side. Cook for about another 30 seconds or until the bottom side is golden brown.

In a small saucepan, heat the butter over medium low heat until melted and add the half & half, whisking to make sure the cream doesn't burn. Next, add the fresh chopped rosemary and salt & pepper and whisk to mix. When the cream barely starts to boil around the edges, stir in the cornstarch (or flour) and water mixture and whisk briskly so that the sauce begins thicken. Cook for another minute or so, or until your sauce thickens well. Don't worry if it's a little runny at first; it will thicken after removing it from the heat.

Assemble your crepes by placing a spoonful or two or chicken in the center of each crepe, drizzle a little bit of rosemary cream on the inside if you like, roll together, and place on a plate. Continue until all crepes have been assembled. Ladle a generous amount of the rosemary cream sauce on top of each serving, garnish with extra fresh rosemary sprigs, and enjoy!

Simple Roast Chicken

I thought I knew how to roast a chicken, but this was definitely the best roast chicken I have ever had. The meat was so juicy it literally fell off the bone. The layer of salt on the skin crisped up really nicely and the trussing made a difference in even cooking.

Ingredients

• 3-4 lb chicken
• salt
• pepper
  

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Rinse the chicken, then dry it very well with paper towels, inside and out. The less it steams, the drier the heat, the better.
2. Salt and pepper the cavity, then truss the bird. I used this video to help me. Trussing helps the chicken to cook evenly, and it also makes for a more beautiful roasted bird.
3. Salt the chicken evenly, using about 1 tablespoon. Season to taste with pepper.
4. Place the chicken in a sauté pan or roasting pan and, when the oven is up to temperature, put the chicken in the oven. No need to baste. Roast it until it's done, 70-90 minutes. Remove it from the oven and add the thyme, if using, to the pan. Baste the chicken with the juices and let it rest for 15 minutes on a cutting board.
5. Remove the twine. Cut the breast down the middle and serve it on the bone, with one wing joint still attached to each.
   

Butternut Squash Soup

This is my new favorite soup. So easy, low fat, and super delicious. I had butternut squash soup at One Midtown Kitchen a few weeks ago and have been itching to make it myself ever since. I used smart beat instead of butter, and topped off my soup with a dollop of fat free sour cream, a little cinnamon, and a pinch of curry powder. The curry powder is apparently supposed to bring out the squash flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, chopped
• 2 medium potatoes, cubed
• 1 medium butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cubed
• 1 (32 fluid ounce) container chicken stock
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook squash in oven at 400 degrees for about 1 hr. After this, the skin should fall right off. Cube the squash or spoon it out.
   
2. Melt the butter in a large pot, and cook the onion, celery, carrot, potatoes, and squash 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Pour in enough of the chicken stock to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.
3. Transfer the soup to a blender, and blend until smooth. Return to pot, and mix in any remaining stock to attain desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper, curry powder, cinnamon, and sour cream.
   

Pita Croutons

These are super yummy and add some crunch to your salad without have to use store-bought croutons.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed garlic
• Dash of salt
• 1 (8-inch) pita bread round, split into 2 circles

Preparation

Combine olive oil and next 3 ingredients, and brush olive oil mixture over the inside of each pita bread circle.

Cut each pita bread circle into bite-size pieces, and place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 400° for 5 to 7 minutes or until croutons are golden brown.

Source: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=320441

NYT When Chocolate and Chakras Meet

Yoga and food- 2 of my favorite things.

Buffalo Chicken-Style Pizza

This is my favorite pizza ever. Again, another easy and yummy recipe to make...are you sensing a trend here. The recipe calls for an entire 8 oz. bottle of blue cheese dressing, but I usually just use enough to cover the crust (the whole bottle is way too much).

Ingredients

• 3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cooked and cubed
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 (2 ounce) bottle hot sauce
• 1 (8 ounce) bottle blue cheese salad dressing
• 1 (16 inch) prepared pizza crust
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl combine the cubed chicken, melted butter and hot sauce. Mix well. Spread whole bottle of salad dressing over crust, then top with chicken mixture and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
3. Bake in preheated oven until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly, about 5 to 10 minutes. Let set a few minutes before slicing, and serve.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Buffalo-Style-Chicken-Pizza/Detail.aspx

Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is by far my favorite comfort food. I love the tanginess of this version that comes from the sour cream and cottage cheese. Plus, you don't need to spend a ton of money on different cheeses like some recipes. I usually use reduced fat cheddar, cottage cheese, and sour cream to cut back on the fat, and it still tastes great.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 (12 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until done; drain.
2. In 9x13 inch baking dish, stir together macaroni, shredded Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle topping over macaroni mixture.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is golden.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chucks-Favorite-Mac-and-Cheese/Detail.aspx

Fiery Fish Tacos

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a huge thing for fish tacos. This recipe is so quick and easy. The jicama in the salsa adds a really nice crunch.

Ingredients

• ½ cup corn
• ¼ cup diced red onion
• ½ cup peeled, chopped jicama
• ¼ cup diced red bell pepper
• ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
• ½ lime, zested and juiced
• 1 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoons cayenne pepper
• ½ tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoons salt
• 3 (4 ounce) fillets tilapia
• 1 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 corn tortillas, warmed

Directions

1. Preheat skillet for high heat.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together corn, red onion, jicama, red bell pepper, and cilantro. Stir in lime juice and zest.
3. In a small bowl, combine cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, and salt. Brush each fillet with olive oil, and sprinkle with spices.
4. Arrange fillets in pan and cook for 3 minutes per side. For each taco, top two corn tortillas with fish, sour cream, and corn salsa.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fiery-Fish-Tacos-with-Crunchy-Corn-Salsa/Detail.aspx

Pad Kee Mao...sort of

Pad Kee Mao is definitely my favorite Thai dish. Many a night out in college were spent chowing down on this Chinese-influenced dish. My version isn't exactly pad kee mao--the real one uses broad noodles and thai chilies. I used whatever I had on hand in my cabinet/fridge. The recipe is based off of one I found here:

http://massiveappetite.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/pad-kee-mao-thai-drunken-noodles/.

For the sauce:

• 2 T oyster sauce
• 2 T fish sauce
• 2 T palm sugar/brown sugar
• 1 T mirin
• 1 T rice vinegar
• 1 T soy sauce
• 1 T Thai chili-garlic paste (or substitute with another Asian chili sauce, like sriracha)
• Juice of half a lime

Other ingredients:

• 7 ounces rice noodles
  
• 1 T minced garlic
• 10 shrimp
• 2 portabella mushroom caps (I cooked them in chili oil)
• Handful of fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped--use thai basil if possible

1. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the sauce. Mix until the sugar has dissolved and set aside.
   
2. Cook noodles.
3. Add oil to skillet and saute garlic for about 1 minute.
4. Add mushrooms and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes. Add shrimp and heat through.
   
5. Add noodles and sauce to skillet. Toss to coat noodles and heat through, 2-3 minutes.
6. Toss with chopped basil and serve.